Viveka case: HC reserves orders on Gangi Reddy bail issue

Hyderabad: Yerra Gangi Reddy, the primary accused in Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy's murder case, argued before the Telangana High Court on Wednesday that the CBI plea to cancel his statutory bail is illogical, despite the fact that he cooperated with the investigation team by providing all the information they requested and had appeared before them 72 times.

The HC was hearing the CBI's petition to cancel Gangi Reddy's bail on the grounds that he is the main accused and has influenced crucial witnesses in the case.

Senior counsel Dama Sheshadri Naidu, representing Gangi Reddy, drew the court's attention to the fact that the SIT formed by the AP government, which was the investigation agency prior to the probe being transferred to the CBI, had also conducted a Narco-analysis test on Gangi Reddy, but had not revealed the results.

Gangi Reddy’s counsel contended that even though his client had appeared before the investigation multiple times, the CBI is not in a position to inform the court what it wants to investigate further other than seeking cancellation of his bail.

On the other hand, N. Suneetha Reddy, daughter of late Vivekananda Reddy, contended through her counsel Posani Venkateswarlu that allowing a prime accused in a murder case to freely roam outside under the pretence of statutory bail would send wrong signals to society. Her counsel further stated that if the principal accused, Gangi Reddy, is released on bail, the victims in the murder case will not receive justice and witnesses may be frightened.

 Posani Venkateswarlu further informed the court that the Supreme Court had overturned the AP High Court's order, which had rejected the CBI's request to cancel Gangi Reddy's bail. He also submitted that the Supreme Court has transferred the CBI's petition to the Telangana High Court, instructing it to rule on merits. However, Gangi Reddy misled the court by claiming that the CBI's appeal had previously been rejected by the Kadapa court and the AP High Court, Posani Venkateswarlu submitted.

N.Nagendra, counsel for the CBI, contended that Gangi Reddy was key to the planning and execution of Vivekananda's murder. Further, he submitted that the CBI had convincing proof that Gangi Reddy destroyed evidence at the scene of crime and attempted to tamper with it as well as threaten witnesses. Justice Chillakur Sumalatha posted the hearing to Thursday.